TONY Blair today signalled his determination to press ahead with controversial plans to put terror suspects under house arrest.

TONY Blair today signalled his determination to press ahead with controversial plans to put terror suspects under house arrest.

The prime minister's official spokesman acknowledged that the powers the government was seeking represented "extreme measures", but said they were needed to deal with "extreme circumstances".

Mr Blair and Home Secretary Charles Clarke are due to meet Tory leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy on Friday to try to secure an all-party agreement on new anti-terror powers.

Illegal

But Mr Howard and Mr Kennedy have made clear their opposition to the introduction of house arrest as a substitute for holding foreign terror suspects without trial.

Ministers have been forced to act after the Lords ruled last year that the continued detention of suspects under anti-terrorism legislation was illegal.

The government is anxious to proceed "as quickly as possible" but, with a General Election expected in May, it is likely to run out of time in the current parliamentary session unless it has the support of the opposition.

Mr Blair's spokesman said Friday would bring a "serious discussion on serious issues".